Some Valley communities are among those in northeast Ohio benefitting from $181 million in low-interest and principal forgiveness funding from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, and make other water quality improvements.

The lower interest rates and principal forgiveness will save these communities more than $30.7 million.

For the first half of 2020, these Mahoning Valley-area projects are receiving funding:

● Youngstown is receiving $15 million to replace primary settling tank equipment and to make electrical upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant;

● Canfield is receiving $352,000 to design a sewer extension along the Mill Creek bike path;

● Trumbull County is receiving $1.5 million to construct 15,000 linear feet of mainline sanitary sewer pipe to service residences and businesses in Liberty;

● New Waterford is receiving $95,000 to design a waterline and equipment replacement.

● Health departments, districts, and county commissions in these counties are receiving $150,000 in principal forgiveness loans for the repair and replacement of household sewage treatment systems: Columbiana, Geauga, Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Summit and Trumbull.

The projects are improving Ohio’s surface water quality and the reliability and quality of Ohio drinking water systems. The funds to the counties to help low-income property owners repair or replace failing home septic systems do not have to be repaid.

Created in 1989, the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund helps communities improve their wastewater treatment systems. The Water Supply Revolving Loan Account, started in 1998, provides loans for improvements to community drinking water systems and nonprofit, noncommunity public water systems. Both programs offer below-market interest rate loans, which can save communities a substantial amount of money compared to a market-rate loan.

Ohio EPA’s state revolving fund loans are provided to communities to build and upgrade wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, upgrade home sewage treatment systems, better manage storm water, address combined sewer overflows, and implement other water quality-related projects.

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